otherwise the project cannot go forward.

otherwise the project cannot go forward.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Less than two years ago, the Minnesota Vikings were one play away from the Super Bowl, with a talent-rich roster that made them the unquestioned class of the NFC North. Fast forward to 2011, and they are limping through a second straight miserable season, with the gap between them and the rest of the division widening by the day. The Vikings lost 45-7 at Lambeau Field on Monday night to drop to 2-7. They have lost nine straight games to division opponents, including a combined score of 84-17 in trips to Chicago and Green Bay this season. They lack depth and have question marks at every position besides running back and defensive end and appear destined to finish in last place in the North for the second straight season. That hasnt happened since the NFL went to the division format in 1967. For a proud franchise with a history of being competitive, the plummeting is a difficult reality to grasp. "Just disgusted," defensive end Jared Allen said Monday night. "I mean 45-7, are you kidding me? I havent lost this bad since I dont know when. I dont know. Weve got some issues weve got to get cleaned up. Weve got to play better. They throttled us out there." To make matters worse, the Vikings lost cornerback Antoine Winfield to a season-ending clavicle injury. Winfield will have surgery this week, further decimating a secondary that was already short-handed. Cornerback Chris Cook is not with the team while he works through legal issues stemming from domestic battery charges and safety Husain Abdullahs status for Sundays game against Oakland is in doubt because of a concussion. Frazier said the Vikings plan to bring in some players for workouts to fill the void, including veteran cornerback Benny Sapp. Through nine games this season, the Vikings appear to lack playmakers in the secondary and at receiver and badly need upgrades at defensive tackle and every position on the offensive line. Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder has shown signs of promise, but his rough showing against the Packers -- 16 for 34 for 190 yards and one interception -- indicates its too early to say if he is the long-term answer or not. "Any loss is tough, but when you go out and lose like this, it is tough," Ponder said with emphasis. "We cant forget that we were neck-and-neck with them two games ago. We know that we are a lot better team than this and we didnt play that way tonight." Minnesotas fall coincides with the rise of the other three teams in the NFC North, making it one of the most daunting divisions in the league. Green Bay (9-0) is the defending Super Bowl champion with a quarterback playing so well it doesnt figure to be dropping off anytime soon. Chicago (6-3) made it to the NFC title game last year and thrashed the Vikings 39-10 at Soldier Field on Oct. 16. Detroit (6-3) has scuffled of late but finally seems to be shedding the label of division doormat. "Theres concern anytime you lose in the fashion we lost last night and even in the Chicago game," Frazier said Tuesday. "Youve got to figure out some things and try to get some things turned around and close the gap on those two divisional opponents. But for us right now, learning from this game and getting ready for the Oakland game is going to be the most important thing." The Vikings did give the Packers a fight three weeks ago in a 33-27 loss at the Metrodome, and they lost 26-23 to the Lions in Week 3. But their performance on Monday night had even the most optimistic of players doing some soul searching. "Are they that good? Are we that bad? I dont know," Allen said. "Obviously we played with them at home. They were firing on all cylinders, so I guess the answer is yeah, theyre that good." Frazier said they have to look at everything in the organization, from personnel to preparation to coaching over the next few weeks to try to keep a miserable season from turning into a complete disaster. "You dont stick your head in the sand and say it was just one thing," Frazier said. "I think you have to peel the onion back and just look at every detail if what you are doing and try to ascertain whats the best thing going forward. And thats what I have tried to do today and will continue to do this week." NOTES: Long snapper Cullen Loeffler injured his rotator cuff, but Frazier said the team would give it a few days before deciding if they needed to bring in someone off the street. Allen was one of the top long snappers in college at Idaho State, but Frazier said they dont want him to risk getting hurt. ... LB Erin Henderson had a "slightly strained hamstring" and will be evaluated as the week goes on. ... Ponder had X-rays on his left hand after he got stepped on, but those came back negative and he is expected to be fine, Frazier said. Richard Jefferson Mavericks Jersey . Miller and the Vancouver Whitecaps mutually agreed to terminate the Scottish nationals contract on Sunday, freeing the 34-year-old to take a vacation with his wife and children. Devin Harris Jersey . -- The New England Patriots have re-signed veteran defensive lineman Andre Carter He had 10 sacks for the Patriots in 2011, his only season with them, and was chosen to his first Pro Bowl. http://www.shopmavericksonline.com/womens-al-farouq-aminu-basketball-jersey/ . -- Bracken Kearns didnt question his good luck. Devin Harris Mavericks Jersey . Chelsea fought back from a goal down, with John Terrys header during a revitalized second-half display cancelling out Gylfi Sigurdssons opener as the Blues seized the initiative against Andre Villas-Boas team. With around 10 minutes to go, Torres, who had been at the heart of Chelseas second-half attacking threat, was shown a second yellow card for an aerial collision with Jan Vertonghen. Jason Kidd Swingman Jersey . But it was the first 20 that did them in.The Ottawa Senators scored three times in the first period and held on for a 4-3 win to send the Maple Leafs to the all-star break on a six-game losing streak.RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- The head of Olympic planning for Rio de Janeiros municipal government has resigned. Maria Silvia Bastos Marques, president of the EOM (Municipal Olympic Company), will be leaving her post but will remain as an advisor, a city hall statement said Tuesday. She will be replaced by Joaquim Monteiro, who works for the city government as a marketing specialist. The resignation comes almost two weeks after IOC inspectors urged Rio organizers and government representatives to finalize budget decisions about who pays for what for the 2016 Olympics. The Rio Games have been plagued by delays, partially centred on budget and planning problems among Brazils three levels of government. Brazil is spending about $15 billion on the games, a mix of private and public money, and faces pressure to rein in spending -- or be seen to be doing so. In a similar move six months ago, an army general took over the Olympic Public Authority, which co-ordinates planning between various layers of Brazilian government. Speaking to Rio officials at the end of an inspection tour two weeks ago, a top IOC official warned of the need to finalize planning. "At one point ... they have to decide who iis doing what," said Gilbert Felli, the IOCs executive director of the Olympic Games.dddddddddddd "At some point they have to take decisions, otherwise the project cannot go forward." A meeting announced for last week to deal with Olympic spending, which was to have included officials from the office of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, did not take place as scheduled. At least two major projects are behind schedule: the second largest cluster of venues called Deodoro, and the Olympic golf course. Work has yet to begin at Deodoro. Nawal El Moutawakel, head of the inspection team, said "until ground is broken, Deodoro remains a project under intense pressure." Last week the president of the International Golf Federation, Peter Dawson, said he was disappointed with slow progress on the golf course. Golf returns to the 2016 Olympics for the first time since 1904 in St. Louis. "Rio has got quite a few challenges ahead of them to get things done in time," Dawson said. "We are new to the Olympic Games. Maybe this is normal. 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